Study Pills

http://www.westernherald.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2006/01/26/43d8325d10196

Adderall as 'study drug' on the rise

By Katie Conrad
News Writer
January 26, 2006

The use of Adderall is becoming increasingly prevalent on college campuses,
and the risks surrounding it are high, health officials say.
Adderall, which is mixed amphetamine salts, is a stimulant prescribed to
treat Attention Deficit Disorder and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity
Disorder, and has replaced Ritalin as the standard prescription, according
to Bill Green, chief pharmacist at Western Michigan University's Sindecuse
Health Center.

Non-prescription use on campus, however, is increasing, as many students
seek Adderall for help, mainly during finals week.

"Students refer to these as study pills. They are amphetamines and they are
dangerous," Green said. "They can do pretty significant damage if used over
time."

If used as prescribed to treat ADD or ADHD, the medication includes side
effects such as lack of sleep, decreased appetite, weight change or mood
changes, according to Chetan Vyas, a psychiatrist at SHC.

Non-prescription uses of both Adderall and Ritalin can cause severe
problems, including mood changes and psychosis, doctors have found.

"When used as prescribed for ADHD, they [Ritalin and Adderall] are very safe
medications," said Bryan Staufer, a physician at SHC. "When used outside of
ADHD, they can cause problems, including psychotic reaction, seizure and
severe anxiety."

He said that while the potential for abuse is always present, he trusts his
patients are using Adderall safely.

"My guess is there are probably more than 500 students on campus who are
getting treatment for ADHD. I have to devote my work to these students who
genuinely need medication," he added, noting that he relies on the Michigan
Automated Prescription System electronic database to monitor the use of
controlled substances prescribed to patients.

Doctors and pharmacists must enter each prescribed drug into the database,
and it provides for easy access if patients seem to be asking for early
refills to Adderall, he said.

Diagnosing ADHD is done very carefully through an extensive interview,
Staufer said, as doctors tailor each dose of Adderall to the individual
depending on the degree of impairment, after assessing academic and personal
performances.

Most patients who have been prescribed Adderall function well on 20 to 30 mg
per day. The United States Food and Drug Administration maximum is 60 mg per
day, Vyas said.

Patients are prescribed one month's worth of the medication each time.

When suspicion arises, Green said he investigates early refill requests
along with the clinician, and has found that students find timed-release
Adderall capsules harder to abuse.

"[That is] because the medication is encapsulated to release on time
controls," he said.

The immediate-release medication allows individuals to peak about an hour
and a half after swallowing it, Staufer said, which can cause students to
believe they need more of it to function properly.

Staufer said students who have varied schedules and take the timed-release
capsules consider it an inconvenience.

"Most college students find they can manage ADD better if they can take
tablets according to their day," he said.

Allison Winter, a WMU senior majoring in advertising and promotions, agreed.

Winter, who has been taking Adderall for two weeks - one pill in the morning
and one mid-day - said that she was diagnosed with ADD at the age of 16 and
was previously prescribed Concerta.

She began taking Adderall at 5 mg and could not tell any difference in her
performance between it and Concerta.

However, she has noticed mood changes.

"Since I've been on it, I've really noticed a change. It makes me almost
mildly depressed."

She said she knows of students who have taken Adderall without a
prescription, but she is surprised that she has not been approached by
anyone looking to try her medication.

"They say it's the most abused drug on campus - even over alcohol," she
said.

Staufer, Vyas and Green all agreed that close monitoring of prescription
Adderall is the best way to prevent abuse.




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